Paraxial Gaussian wave beam propagation in an anisotropic inhomogeneous plasma
- 1 January 1999
- journal article
- Published by AIP Publishing in Physics of Plasmas
- Vol. 6 (1), 5-11
- https://doi.org/10.1063/1.873254
Abstract
The beam tracing technique describes electromagnetic wave beam propagation in the short wavelength limit, including diffraction effects, not described by the usual geometric optics. It involves a set of ordinary differential equations: a central or reference ray is determined and around this the beam profile and the shape of the phase front are calculated. Here, these equations are obtained for a Gaussian wave beam. Analytic solutions in an inhomogeneous magnetized plasma are given for perpendicular propagation in a slab geometry. The beam is found to show a strong deformation of its cross section due to the anisotropy of the medium. The rotation of the cross section and that of the curvature of the phase front are discussed.Keywords
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